Top 10 Cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day

Drinking holidays are a team favorite, of course, so we decided to do a roundup of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day drinks. The great thing about St. Patty’s Day is that not only do we celebrate with the consumption of booze, but it’s a tribute to the camaraderie of social drinking, and the truly close friendships that are solidified over drunk conversation. Everyone likes to celebrate with a few green cocktails, and the ubiquitous green beer, but Ireland’s drinking history goes back for centuries. Starting with Ireland’s whiskey, stouts, and cream liquors, and moving on to some less traditional spirits as well, there’s an endless list of options to choose from. We polled the HomeWetBar.com team, and here are our top 10 St. Patrick’s Day drinks.

1. Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee

You can’t drink all day unless you start in the morning, and Irish coffee is the perfect choice. Easily made by stirring together hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and brown sugar, simply top with thick cream and you’re ready to kick St. Patty’s Day off right. Irish coffee is also great for morning after recovery. We highly recommend Dawn of the Caffeinated Zombie mug, because it’s even more Irish if it’s in a green mug.

2. Blarney Stone

Blarney Stone Cocktail

The first of the green cocktails on our list, a Blarney Stone is named after Ireland’s most legendary rock. Made mostly from Irish whiskey, add splashes of anise liqueur, triple sec, and Maraschino, and shake together with ice. Strain & pour into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an orange peel for a festive presentation. The Blarney Stone cocktail may not be as green as some of the other options, but it’s the luckiest mixed drink at any St. Patrick’s Day party.

3. Irish Buck

Irish Buck Cocktail

An easy, fruity cocktail that anyone will enjoy, the Irish Buck is two parts whiskey, three parts ginger ale, with a hearty squeeze of lime juice for good measure. When you use something smooth & sweet, like Bushmill’s Irish whiskey, the bite of the ginger balances this cocktail into a tasty treat. It’s a frequent hit with Moscow Mule lovers, too, so be sure to pull out your copper mugs.

4. Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle Cocktail

One of the most beautiful green alcoholic drinks, the name “Emerald Isle” suitably pays tribute to Ireland’s vibrant landscape. Mixed with two parts gin, one half part green creme de menthe, and a dash of bitters, this cocktail has a fresh minty flavor that will transport you right to the fields outside Dublin. A cherry garnish puts a little treasure at the bottom of the rainbow.

5. Shandy

A Classic Shandy

A superb choice for light drinkers, the Shandy is made by mixing Irish beer in equal portion with seltzer and lemonade. You can also use other non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, such as ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. This beer cocktail gives you the traditional feel of St. Patrick’s Day beer drinking with a fruity twist. Extra points if you can find a tasty green soda.

6. Irish Car Bomb

Irish Car Bomb

Super fun and amazingly simple, the Irish Car Bomb is a bar favorite. Start by filling a pint glass halfway with Guinness. Next, fill a shot glass with half Irish whiskey, and half Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur. Finally, drop the shot glass into the beer, and drink up! Ideally, this drink is meant to be chugged all at once, although taking your time is equally as tasty. Also, we recommend saving this indulgence for further into the celebration. This shot can hit you like, well, a car bomb.

7. Grapefruit Whiskey Sour

Grapefruit Whiskey Sour

This modern take on a classic cocktail is one of our new favorite St. Patrick’s Day drinks. Made with 2 ounces of Irish whiskey, 1 ounce of sugar, and 1 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice shaken over ice, simply strain into a glass and sip. The tangy punch of the grapefruit juice combined with the freshly dissolved sugar is a brilliant replacement for the standard sweet and sour mixer. Thanks for the recipe, Bakers Royale!

8. Black Velvet

Black Velvet Cocktails

Stay with us for this one. It may sound wacky, but it’s actually so easy, and so delectable. The Black Velvet is made by filling a champagne flute half way with sparkling wine, then topping it off with Guinness. The unusual combination creates an unforgettable flavor, with a bubbly texture that tastes like a party in a glass. Go for a sweeter sparkling wine to balance with the thick flavor of the Guinness.

9. Midori Melon Bomb

Midori Melon Bomb

The sweet melon flavor of Midori makes it a versatile way to add color to green cocktails. The Midori Melon Bomb is created with Midori, golden rum, orange juice, and garnished with citrus. Definitely the sweetest St. Patrick’s Day drink on our list. With a combination of flavors that’s popular and easy to drink, we could easily see multiplying the ingredients to make a fantastic green punch recipe. A big thanks to our friends at TheNibble for helping us find is treat!

10. Celtic Mix Cocktail

Celtic Mix Cocktail

Holidays are more fun when you celebrate with your friends and neighbors, which is why we love the Celtic Mix cocktail. In a fun tribute to geography, this drink stirs together Irish whiskey, Scotch whiskey, fresh lemon juice and a dash of bitters. Served on the rocks, the old fashioned flavor will make you homesick for County Cork, even if you’re only Irish for a day.